When I look for white hardwood among the pictures of wood samples available on the internet all I see is yellow/tan wood labeled white.

I have this vision in my head of something I saw a long time ago made of a bone white wood with a grainy surface (is this the right description?) that had a dark color possibly rubbed in to it. I don't think it was painted but who knows? Maybe I am imagining this, it was a long time ago.

Is there a white hardwood or is there some white paint or dye that doesn't leave the surface looking like it had been painted?

Black walnut sapwood is a very plain white color. But only if it has not been steamed, which many hardwood dealers will do before drying it. If you can find some which a has been air dried, check that out.

_________________When I don't get to fish for a few weeks I start to have nightmares, But its the daydreams that bother me the most!
Marty

I was thinking Holly as well. Not easy to get large section stuff... holly trees don't get all that big. Other than that try bleeching a pale wood. I remember Ian Norbury the carver produced a white dove out of I think Europian Lime (not the Citrus Tree) which he bleached with professional hair Bleech
Came out stark white but didn't look painted. Don't know how long it would stay white though.

Ray

_________________I aim to live for ever.... and it's taking me that long to get my workshop finished!

As others have said, holly is what you want. I have seen thin turnings of holly that you would swear were fine white Chinese porcelain.

One of the problems with holly is keeping it white. As with any porous white material it is easily stained with other pigments. If you are using a contrasting wood, sanding dust can mess up your project. That's why I always try to use a scraper for the final surface when using holly.

Don't forget to post some pictures when you're finished.

Tom

_________________"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."Mohandas K. Ghandi

I am thinking that it may have been white-washed.
I have seen white-washed oak it has a lot of grain.
A wash is generals a thinned out paint I have used based paints, I have heard that you can use acrylic paints.

_________________"It is not a mistake it is a learning experience"
Monte

...a bone white wood with a grainy surface (is this the right description?) that had a dark color possibly rubbed in to it.

Hey Richard,
Is it possible that you were looking at spalted wood? Spalted wood is a natural phenomena caused by various mold species. Some create a bleached white appearance, and others various colors from red to blue, and brown to black. Some woodworkers maintain cultures of these molds in order to specifically color the wood and its grain patterns. Most folks just pay extra for naturally spalted wood, or are lucky enough to score a windfall with an interesting spalting to it.

Tom

_________________"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."Mohandas K. Ghandi

Some parts of holly have a very mesmerizing natural pinkish tint. One of our members, about 4 or 5 years ago, posted such projects made of holly. Offhand, I can't remember who it was, seems like the intials had a couple of c's in the name.

Jiggy

_________________~First light brings a new day, new hope, new wisdom, & a chance to start fresh again-JSM~Welcome to all new members! & welcome back to the others!~He is most powerful who has power over himself - Seneca

I work at a veneer shop and was splicing together some english sycamore today. It looked pretty white to me. If I get a chance, I'll take a picture. I'm bringing a buncy of cutoffs home to make accents in some bandsaw boxes.

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